Round 4 Feature Match:

Josh Bennett

ormer World Champion Carlos Romao has one of the Pro Tour's biggest smiles. Despite his usually jolly appearance, he plays the game with a quiet intensity. That's just fine with Jin Okamoto, one of Japan's most lettered players. He plays a very careful game. These two clashed at 2-1, and Romao was not optimistic about the matchup.

Romao couldn't contain a smile as he kept his opening hand. It turned out it was a smile of resignation. While his first play was a Skeleton Shard on turn three, Okamoto was firing with Aether Spellbomb, Copper Myr and Tel-Jilad Exile. Irradiate took care of the Myr, complicating Okamoto's mana, but he had Chromatic Sphere at the ready. It let him bounce Romao's next play of Pewter Golem and send for more damage. Next came Mask of Memory, and Romao was in serious trouble.

This time around, Romao had a second-turn Myr while Okamoto had nothing to do. However, all Romao could accelerate into was Thoughtcast. Okamoto's third turn came and went with three untapped mana. Romao played a Soldier Replica and held back for fear of Raise the Alarm sabotaging his Myr.

Finally Okamoto got in the game with Tel-Jilad Exile. Romao upped the stakes with a Malachite Golem, but Okamoto showed him who was boss with a mighty Molder Slug. Romao didn't even flinch. He untapped, Irradiated the Exile and Terrored the Slug, losing his lowly Myr. Then he bashed for six.

Okamoto hoped to buy time with an Aether Spellbomb on the big Golem, and Journey of Discovery got him his second plains and an island. However, Romao ripped his sixth land and replayed his 5/3. All Okamoto could do was pay full price for a Somber Hoverguard, quickly Irradiated by Romao. He played a Skyhunter Patrol, but Romao's men kept hitting. At least it would hold off Romao's Pewter Golem. The problem was the rest of the monsters on the table. Okamoto chumped with Den-Guard, then scooped.